[Ch.8.]
8.1
CHAPTER VIII
ECCLESIASTICAL TRIBUNALS,
FACULTIES, REGISTRIES
________________
1
Preliminary
The tribunals and courts defined in this Chapter shall be the ecclesiastical tribunals of the Church of Ireland;
they shall possess the powers and proceed in the manner hereinafter prescribed, and shall respectively be
called the Diocesan Courts of the several dioceses and united dioceses, the Court of the General Synod and
the Disciplinary Tribunal and the Appeal Tribunal. Any question of discipline involving any Archbishop,
bishop or member of the clergy and any question of doctrine that arises during the course of a disciplinary
hearing shall be heard and determined under Part IV.
Part I
AMENDED 2008
DIOCESAN COURTS
2
Jurisdiction
(a) There shall be a Diocesan Court in each diocese or united diocese, which shall have power and
jurisdiction to hear appeals from the decision of the Ordinary on all matters so appointed by the law of
the Church of Ireland. The Ordinary nevertheless shall have power to refer to the said Court any matter
within the jurisdiction of that Court submitted for the Ordinary’s consideration without the Ordinary
having given a personal decision thereon. In case of such reference the bishop (as Ordinary) shall not
be prevented from presiding at the Diocesan Court.
(b) In all cases where the parties submit, or are bound by the laws of the Church, the Diocesan Court may
hear and determine any questions connected with the property of the Church or the administration
thereof, or with ecclesiastical rights generally, which may arise between members of the Church of
Ireland, if the respondent be resident within the diocese or united diocese in which the court has
jurisdiction.
3
The Diocesan Court: Judge, Chancellor, Members and Registrar
(a) In Part I of this Chapter, the word “bishop” shall include an archbishop in relation to any diocese which is
normally or temporarily under the governance of an archbishop.
(b) The bishop of the diocese or the bishop’s commissary shall be the judge in the Diocesan Court:
Provided always that in case of the disability of any bishop to sit in the Diocesan Court by reason of
illness or any other hindrance, such bishop shall have power to appoint another bishop or other member
of the clergy to sit as commissary for and in place of the bishop. The bishop, or the bishop’s
commissary, shall in every case be assisted by the chancellor.
(c)
The bishop of each diocese shall from time to time, as occasion may require, appoint under episcopal
seal (which appointment shall be filed of record) a fit and proper person as chancellor, to sit with the
bishop in the Diocesan Court as assessor, who shall be a person qualified for election as a lay judge of
the Court of the General Synod as provided by section 8(e) of this Chapter or a solicitor of ten years’
practice in any part of Ireland, and shall hold office for ten years (which term may be renewed for
further terms of ten years), or until resignation, or order of removal by the bishop founded upon a
resolution of the diocesan synod: Provided always that nothing herein contained shall prevent the same
person from holding office as chancellor in two or more dioceses.
8.2
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
[Ch.8.]
AMENDED 2008
(d) The clergy of the diocesan synod shall elect three members of the clergy, and the lay synod members
shall elect three laypersons, as members of the Diocesan Court, who shall be elected to hold office from
1st January of the first year of the General Synod triennium for three years and be elected triennially
thereafter, and shall be eligible for re-election. Any casual vacancy by death, resignation, or continued
absence from Ireland for twelve months, occurring among the clerical or lay members of any Diocesan
Court, shall be filled as soon as conveniently may be by the clerical or lay members, as the case may be,
of the diocesan synod of the diocese in which such vacancy shall have occurred. Any person elected to
fill a casual vacancy shall hold office only so long as the person in whose place such person shall have
been elected would have held the office if such vacancy had not occurred. The bishop shall in every
case summon by rotation to sit with the bishop in the Diocesan Court one member each of the clergy
and of the laity from those so elected, to whom, along with the bishop or the bishop’s commissary, all
questions of fact shall be referred: Provided, however, that if both parties shall express their consent in
writing, it shall be in the power of the bishop or the bishop’s commissary to hear and determine the case
alone.
4
(e)
The bishop shall from time to time, as occasion may require, appoint a fit and proper person to be the
registrar of the diocese and may also appoint one or more assistant registrars. Each assistant shall
perform such of the registrar’s duties as the bishop shall assign. Registrars and assistant registrars shall
hold office until otherwise directed by the bishop for the time being or until resignation or death.
Registrars and assistant registrars shall receive such salary as the diocesan council of the diocese shall
appoint, and such travelling or other expenses incident to the performance of their duties as the diocesan
council may determine.
(f)
In any special circumstances, particulars whereof shall be filed in the registry of the diocese or united
diocese, the bishop may appoint under episcopal seal a fit and proper person to be a deputy chancellor
or a deputy registrar of such diocese or united diocese during the continuance of such special
circumstances and any such appointment and the duration thereof shall be filed of record. Every deputy
so appointed shall during the continuance of such appointment have all the powers and perform all the
duties of the chancellor or registrar in the place of whom such deputy is so appointed to act: Provided
always that every deputy chancellor shall be qualified as hereinbefore provided with respect to the
chancellor.
(g) Every chancellor, deputy chancellor, registrar, deputy registrar, assistant registrar, and elected member
of a diocesan court, shall before entering upon the duties of office, make and sign a declaration in the
following form:
I, A. B., do solemnly and sincerely declare that I am a member of the Church of Ireland, and that I will
faithfully, and to the best of my ability, execute the office of
of
the
diocese (or united diocese, as the case may be) of without fear, favour, affection or malice.
Diocesan Registry
The Diocesan Registry shall be established in a place to be named by the bishop, and the diocesan council
shall make such provision for the safe custody of the registry and its contents as the bishop shall require.
5
Original Proceedings in and Appeals and References to Diocesan Court
(a)
Original proceedings in and appeals and references to Diocesan Court shall be presented by petition in
writing, duly signed. The petition shall be lodged with the registrar of the diocese. Such petition shall
be in the form set forth in Appendix A hereunto annexed, or as near thereto as the nature of the case will
admit. Provided that the petitioner or petitioners, except in the case of an archbishop or bishop, shall be
resident within the diocese, or shall have been personally injured or aggrieved by the act complained of.
(b) The petitioner, or petitioners, except in the case of an archbishop or bishop, shall lodge with the registrar
of the diocese a sum of £600 or €1,000 (or such other sum as the Rules Committee may from time to
time prescribe) as appropriate, as security for the payment by such petitioner or petitioners of all such
costs and expenses as may be ordered by the Diocesan Court, or by the Court of the General Synod.
(c)
The registrar, within seven days after such money is lodged, shall send a copy of the petition to the
respondent, in a registered or recorded letter addressed to the respondent’s residence or last known place
of abode; and, after receiving an answer from the respondent, or, if no answer shall in the meantime
have been received, after the expiration of fourteen days from the day on which such copy of the
petition shall have been so sent, shall lay before the bishop the petition, and the answer (if any) of the
respondent thereto.
[Ch.8.]
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
8.3
(d) In all cases where a petition is to be heard in the Diocesan Court, it shall be the duty of the registrar to
apply to the chancellor for a citation. The chancellor shall thereupon issue a citation under the
chancellor’s hand, requiring the attendance of either of the parties before the Diocesan Court, to be held
at such time and place as the chancellor shall in such citation appoint: Provided that the first sitting of
the court shall be held not less than one fortnight nor more than three calendar months after the date of
issue of the citation.
(e)
The chancellor shall, at the instance of either of the parties, issue letters to persons whose evidence may
be needed at the hearing, requesting them to attend at such time and place as aforesaid; and, if
necessary, requesting them also to bring with them such documents relating to the matters in issue as
may be in their possession, power, or procurement.
(f)
When any witness shall be unable or unwilling to attend, the chancellor may appoint, in such manner
and on such terms as the chancellor shall see fit, a commissioner to take the testimony of such witness;
and such witness may be examined, cross-examined, and re-examined, by the parties, or their agents,
solicitors, or counsel, before such commissioner. The examination shall be reduced to writing, and
signed by the witness and by the commissioner, and shall be forthwith transmitted by the commissioner,
under seal, to the chancellor; and the same shall, without further proof, be available and admissible as
evidence in all subsequent proceedings in the same case.
(g) The petition, answer, and every other pleading may at any time be amended in such manner and on such
terms as the court (or, if the court is not in session, the chancellor) shall think fit and necessary for the
purposes of justice.
AMENDED 2008
(h) The evidence of all witnesses examined before the court shall be given viva voce, and shall be recorded
as the court shall direct.
6
(i)
The court, after hearing the parties, or such of them as shall appear, their agents, solicitors, or counsel,
and the witnesses, shall consider the evidence, and may deliver judgment, which shall be reduced to
writing, or shall remit the case to the Court of the General Synod. The court shall make such order as to
costs and expenses, including the registrar’s fees and charges, and as to the disposal of the deposit, if
any, as it shall think fit.
(j)
In every case in which a bishop shall institute proceedings in that bishop’s own Diocesan Court, the
bishop shall, and in all other cases may, direct the chancellor to act in the bishop’s place; and such
direction shall suffice to confer all the jurisdiction of the bishop on the chancellor in such case.
Appeals from Interlocutory Orders of a Diocesan Court
There shall not be any appeal in any suit or other proceeding before a Diocesan Court, without the special
leave of the Court, from any interlocutory order not having the effect of a final order, until a final order shall
have been pronounced thereon; but when a final order shall have been pronounced, the party appealing
therefrom may also appeal from any interlocutory order or orders in the same case.
Part II
THE COURT OF THE GENERAL SYNOD
7
Jurisdiction
(a) An appeal shall lie to the Court of the General Synod from every judgment and order of a Diocesan
Court except in the case of proceedings under Chapter IX, section 16.
(b) The Court of the General Synod shall have original jurisdiction in the following matters:
(i)
any question of a legal nature which has arisen, or which may arise, in respect to the proceedings
at any election to fill a vacancy in the office of an archbishop or bishop;
(ii) any other matter so appointed by the law of the Church of Ireland.
8.4
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
(c)
[Ch.8.]
It shall be in the power of the House of Bishops or of the General Synod to refer to the Court of the
General Synod, for hearing and determination, any questions of a legal nature which have arisen or
which may arise in the course of their proceedings; and the said Court shall thereupon proceed to hear
and determine the same in the same manner as in the case of an appeal, or to advise the House of
Bishops or the General Synod in respect of the same, as the case may require.
(d) The Court of the General Synod shall not determine any matter or question which, in the opinion of the
lay judges, is within the jurisdiction and more proper to be submitted to the consideration and decision
of a civil tribunal.
8
Constitution and Membership: Registrar
(a)
The Court of the General Synod shall be constituted as follows:
(i)
In all cases in which the Representative Body is a party the Court shall be constituted of the three
lay judges first in order upon the list of the judges elected, in manner hereinafter provided, by the
Standing Committee of the General Synod (not being members of the Representative Body) who
may be able to attend.
AMENDED 2008
(ii) In the case of
(a)
any question of a legal nature which has arisen, or which may arise, in respect to the
proceedings at any election to fill a vacancy in the office of an archbishop or bishop; or
(b)
any questions referred to the Court by the House of Bishops or the General Synod under
section 7(c) of this Chapter; or
(c)
an appeal from a judgment or order of a diocesan court under section 9(d) of this Chapter,
the Court shall be constituted of three ecclesiastical and four lay judges.
(iii) In any other case the Court shall be constituted of two ecclesiastical and three lay judges.
(b) The ecclesiastical judges to constitute a Court of the General Synod shall be the three or two, as the case
may be, members of the House of Bishops, first in order of precedence, who may be able to attend.
(c)
The lay judges to constitute a Court of the General Synod shall be the four or three, as the case may be,
persons first in order upon the list of lay judges as is hereinafter provided, who may be able to attend.
(d) No archbishop or bishop, and no chancellor or deputy chancellor, shall sit in the Court of the General
Synod for the hearing of any appeal from the Court of their own diocese.
(e)
Every person being a member of the Church of Ireland who holds or shall have held the office of a
judge of the Supreme Court or of the High Court of the Republic of Ireland or of a judge of the Supreme
Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland, or who shall have been for not less than ten years a barrister
practising at the Irish Bar or at the bar of Northern Ireland, or who shall have been for not less than ten
years a practising solicitor admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland or in Northern Ireland or who
holds or has held the office of chancellor of a diocese, shall be qualified for election as a lay judge of
the Court of the General Synod.
(f)
The Standing Committee of the General Synod shall forthwith after the first ordinary session of each
General Synod elect ten lay judges, to constitute the list of lay judges, and shall also from time to time
fill by election any vacancy or vacancies which may occur in the list of lay judges for the time being
and shall report to the following session of the General Synod.
(g) The registrar of the diocese of Dublin shall be also the registrar of the Court of the General Synod.
9
Proceedings in the Court of the General Synod; Original Jurisdiction
(a) Original proceedings in and references and remittances to the Court of the General Synod shall be
presented by petition in writing, duly signed. The petition shall be lodged with the registrar of the
Court of the General Synod, and shall be in the form set forth in Appendix A hereto annexed, or as near
thereto as the nature of the case will admit. The petition shall be served upon every person named as
respondent. The registrar of the Court of the General Synod shall thereupon issue a citation under the
registrar’s hand, requiring the attendance of each of the parties before the Court of the General Synod,
to be held at such time and place as the registrar shall in such citation appoint.
[Ch.8.]
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
8.5
(b) The decision of the majority of the members of the Court of the General Synod shall be the decision of
the Court.
(c)
The petitioner or petitioners, except in the case of an archbishop or bishop, shall lodge with the registrar
of the Court the sum of £600 or €1,000 (or such other sum as the Rules Committee may from time to
time prescribe) as appropriate as security for the payment by the petitioner or petitioners of all such
costs and expenses of the proceedings as may be ordered by the Court.
AMENDED 2008
(d) Every party appealing from a judgment or order of a Diocesan Court shall state the grounds of the
appeal in writing, in the form set forth in Appendix B hereunto annexed, or as near thereto as the nature
of the case will admit, and shall lodge the same, within fourteen days after the judgment or order, with
the registrar of the Court of the General Synod. The person or persons so appealing shall lodge with the
registrar of the said Court a sum of €1,000 or £600 (or such other sum as the Rules Committee may
from time to time prescribe) as security for to pay all such costs and expenses of the appeal as the
appellant or appellants may be ordered by the Court of the General Synod to pay. Thereupon it shall be
the duty of the registrar to send a copy of the appeal to the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin, and to
the member of the House of Bishops next in order of precedence, and shall obtain from the first in order
of precedence of the three ecclesiastical judges of whom the Court may be constituted an order fixing a
time and place for hearing the appeal, and the registrar shall summon each member of the Court, and the
several parties, to attend at such time and place.
(e)
The registrar, within one week after the appeal shall have been lodged, shall require the registrar of the
Diocesan Court to return to the Court of the General Synod the petition, the respondent’s answer, if any,
and any other pleadings, the notes of the evidence taken in the Diocesan Court, and the written
judgment and order of the said Court, and the diocesan registrar shall forthwith return the same
accordingly, authenticated by the diocesan registrar’s signature.
(f)
The Court of the General Synod, having before it the evidence taken in the Diocesan Court, may allow
either party to the appeal to produce additional evidence, either orally or taken by a commission, or by
the further examination or cross-examination of witnesses examined before the Diocesan Court. When
the parties, or such of them as shall attend upon the appeal, shall have been heard by themselves, their
agents, solicitors, counsel, and witnesses, if any, the Court shall deliver such judgment and order as the
case may require, which shall be reduced to writing and shall be final.
(g) The Court of the General Synod shall have power upon appeal to set aside, vary or confirm the
judgment or order of the Diocesan Court, and to direct by whom the costs and expenses of the
proceedings, including the registrar’s fees and charges, shall be defrayed or borne, and to dispose of the
deposit or deposits, if any, as it shall think fit.
Part III
PROVISIONS RELATING TO DIOCESAN COURTS AND THE COURT OF THE GENERAL SYNOD
10 General
(a)
The several courts hereinbefore mentioned in Parts I and II of this Chapter shall be open to the public,
unless the judge or judges shall deem it expedient to sit in private on account of the matter of the
enquiry or misconduct of the audience or any other urgent reason, in which case each of the parties may
require that not more than six persons chosen by each of the parties shall be permitted to be present.
(b)
No person who is a party to any suit shall act as a member of the court by which the suit is heard.
(c)
The judge or judges of every court may from time to time adjourn the court as they shall deem fit.
(d)
It shall be the duty of every member of the Church of Ireland to attend and give evidence, when duly
summoned to do so, at any hearing or investigation held under the authority of the Constitution.
(e)
Every person who shall be called as a witness at any hearing or investigation held as aforesaid, shall,
before giving evidence, make a solemn declaration to speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth.
(f)
When the court shall have signed its judgment or order, the same shall be filed of record in the registry
of the diocese, or of the Court of the General Synod, as the case may be.
8.6
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
[Ch.8.]
(g)
The several proceedings of or on behalf of each court shall be prepared and recorded by the registrar of
the court in which the case shall be pending, as the case may require.
(h)
The General Synod may from time to time, by resolution, regulate and provide for the election and
summoning of the Court of the General Synod and for giving effect to the provisions of this Chapter, as
occasion may require.
11 Rules Committee of Ecclesiastical Tribunals
(a) The members of the House of Bishops, with the ten elected lay judges of the Court of the General
Synod, shall constitute the Rules Committee of ecclesiastical tribunals under parts I and II of this
Chapter.
AMENDED 2008
(b) The Rules Committee, or any three members thereof, one being an archbishop, may make rules for
carrying the provisions of Parts I and II of this Chapter into effect, and in particular for regulating all
matters relating to procedure, practice, costs, expenses, and fees, giving security for costs, the
pronouncement of judgments and orders, the validity of proceedings notwithstanding irregularity or
defects of form, proceedings in the case of persons who cannot be found or served, the liability to and
recovery of costs and expenses; the forms to be used, and all matters incidental to or connected with the
administration of the ecclesiastical law of the Church of Ireland except any question of discipline
involving any archbishop, bishop or member of the clergy and except any question of doctrine that
arises during the course of a disciplinary hearing.
(c) Every rule made in pursuance of this section shall be signed by three or more members of the Rules
Committee, and shall be presented to the General Synod on the first day of its session next after the
making of such rule, and it shall be lawful for the General Synod by a resolution to annul such rule
without prejudice to the validity of anything done in the meantime in pursuance thereof; and every such
rule, unless annulled as aforesaid, shall, while unrevoked, be of the same validity as if enacted in this
Chapter.
(d) Until further rules shall have been made in pursuance of this section, and subject to such rules when
made, the rules, orders, forms and fees, dated 9th May 1935, and laid before the General Synod of
1935, as amended, shall be the rules, orders, forms and fees of the Diocesan Courts and registries, and
of the Court of the General Synod and of the registry thereof respectively: Provided however that
subject to the proviso to section 3(e) of this Chapter all fees of diocesan courts and registries shall be
credited to diocesan funds.
12 Evidence by way of Statutory Declarations
It shall be lawful for the ecclesiastical tribunals under Parts I and II of this Chapter to receive in evidence
statutory declarations of witnesses, but upon such terms, if any, as to requiring the cross-examination of the
witness either before the court itself or by commission or written interrogatories, or as to allowing such
declarations to be answered, as may be directed by the court or prescribed by rules framed in pursuance of
this Chapter.
13 Petition for a Rehearing
It shall be lawful for any person aggrieved by any judgment, or order of the Court of the General Synod, at
any time within one year next after the date of such judgment, or order, to present a petition to the said Court,
praying that the case may be reheard upon grounds to be set forth in such petition, and requesting that the
judgment, or order may be set aside or varied; and thereupon it shall be lawful for the said Court, or any two
members thereof, upon just and reasonable grounds, to order that the case shall be reheard by the said Court,
and such rehearing shall take place when and as the said Court shall direct: Provided that the said Court or
such members thereof may impose such terms, by way of security for costs and expenses, and by way of
admission or otherwise, as shall be deemed just and proper.
14 Power to grant Licences, Dispensations and Faculties
The archbishops and bishops of the Church of Ireland shall have, and may use, all the same powers of
granting licences, dispensations, faculties, and other writings which they had and might have used at the time
of the passing of the Irish Church Act, 1869: Provided that all persons feeling aggrieved by the granting or
withholding of any faculty, except in the case of the granting or withholding of a faculty for ordination, shall
be entitled to have their case heard and determined by the Diocesan Court.
[Ch.8.]
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
8.7
15 Power to declare vacant an Office held by a Layperson
If any layperson shall have been convicted and sentenced, by any of the temporal courts, for any criminal
offence, or shall be a fugitive from justice in any case in which a warrant has been issued for such person’s
apprehension, or shall have ceased to be a member of the Church of Ireland, or shall be incapacitated by
mental infirmity, or shall wilfully and without sufficient cause have neglected or refused to attend and give
evidence when duly summoned to do so at any trial or investigation held under the authority of the
Constitution, the archbishop or bishop of the diocese, with the advice of the archbishop’s or bishop’s
chancellor, may, by order under episcopal hand and seal, declare any office in the Church of Ireland to which
such layperson may have been elected or appointed to be vacant, and the same shall thereupon be filled in
due course.
AMENDED 2008
16 Costs and Expenses in the Court of the General Synod
(a)
In all proceedings duly taken in the Court of the General Synod, it shall be lawful for the said Court, if
in its discretion it shall so think fit, to order the payment, out of the General Purposes Fund, of the
costs and expenses, in whole or in part, of such proceedings, or of any other legal proceedings
consequent thereon, or incidental thereto; subject to the rules and regulations in force for the time
being, and subject also to the provisions, limitations and conditions hereinafter contained in this
section 16.
(b)
No costs or expenses shall be paid out of the General Purposes Fund to or for any unsuccessful party other than an archbishop or bishop.
(c)
No costs or expenses shall, in any case, be paid out of the General Purposes Fund, which can be
recovered either from any unsuccessful party, or by enforcing any security given for the payment of
costs or expenses in the proceedings.
(d)
No order for the payment of any costs or expenses out of the General Purposes Fund to or for any
party - other than an archbishop or bishop - shall be made in any case which, in the opinion of the
Court, does not involve or affect the general interest or discipline of the Church, or is not of sufficient
importance to justify the application of that fund to the payment of the costs and expenses mentioned
in the order.
(e)
The Court shall have power, in each case, either to order the costs and expenses to be taxed or
moderated as prescribed by rules, or to measure and fix the amount to be paid out of the General
Purposes Fund.
(f)
The Court shall have power, if, having regard to the length of time occupied by the hearing or to any
other special circumstances connected with the case, the Court in its discretion shall so think fit, to
order the payment out of the General Purposes Fund of the expenses necessarily incurred by any
members of the Court in attending such proceedings.
17 Costs and Expenses in a Diocesan Court
It shall be lawful for any diocesan synod, or for any diocesan council, with the authority of or subject to the
approval of the synod of the diocese, to make such provision, by means of a diocesan general purposes fund
or otherwise, for or towards the payment of the costs and expenses of proceedings duly taken in the Diocesan
Court, as may to such diocesan synod or council seem necessary or expedient.
Part IV
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
18 Definitions and Interpretation
(a) Unless the context otherwise requires, in this Part of this Chapter:
8.8
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
[Ch.8.]
“Appellant” means a Respondent who has appealed a finding and/or order of a Disciplinary Tribunal in
accordance with section 34;
“Appeal Tribunal” means a tribunal, appointed under section 34 (d) to hear an appeal;
"Complaint" means any complaint or allegation touching or apparently touching upon the conduct
(whether by act or omission), behaviour, performance or affairs of any bishop or any member of the
clergy in respect of any of the matters mentioned in section 25;
“Complainant” means a person who brings a Complaint to the attention of the Complaints
Administrator;
“Complaints Committee” means the committee appointed under section 21;
“Complaints Administrator” means the person appointed by the Standing Committee with the
approval of the Representative Body to be the Complaints Administrator for the purposes of this Part of
this Chapter;
“Disciplinary Bodies” means the Complaints Administrator, the Complaints Committee, the
Disciplinary Panel, each Disciplinary Tribunal and each Appeal Tribunal;
“Disciplinary Tribunal” means a tribunal appointed under section 31(a) to hear a Formal Complaint;
AMENDED 2008
“Disciplinary Panel” means the panel of persons appointed under section 22;
"Formal Complaint" means a Complaint that has been formulated by the Complaints Committee and
referred by it to a Disciplinary Tribunal in accordance with this Part of this Chapter;
“House of Bishops” means the archbishops and bishops of the Church of Ireland for the time being;
“Lawyer” means any person who is or was a judge in any part of Ireland, or is a solicitor or barrister
who has practised for more than 10 years in any part of Ireland;
“Respondent” means any bishop or any member of the clergy in respect of whom a Formal Complaint
has been referred to a Disciplinary Tribunal; and
“Standing Committee” means the Standing Committee of the General Synod.
(b) For the purposes of this Part of this Chapter only and not otherwise the term ‘member of the clergy’
shall, unless otherwise specifically provided, mean a deacon or priest of the Church of Ireland and the
term ‘bishop’ shall include an archbishop.
(c)
References in this Part of this Chapter to sections are, unless otherwise stated, references to sections of
this Part of this Chapter.
19 Pastoral Resolution
(a) All members of the church are called to exercise a ministry of reconciliation. It is preferable, therefore,
that all complaints and disputes be resolved pastorally within each diocese; that complaints against
clergy be dealt with pastorally by diocesan bishops; or, in the case of complaints against a bishop by the
archbishop of the province; or in the case of an archbishop by the archbishop of the other province.
(b) Bishops have a general duty whenever it is appropriate to endeavour to reconcile the parties involved in
any complaint and achieve an outcome within their diocese accepted by all the parties as a first step
before the disciplinary processes in this Chapter are set in motion. In fulfilling this function a bishop
may put in place an enquiry, a process of conciliation or mediation or such other process of
reconciliation or resolution as the bishop shall think appropriate.
(c)
Only where a bishop, in that bishop’s absolute discretion, determines that such pastoral resolution or
reconciliation has not been possible or is not appropriate should recourse be had to the disciplinary
process set out in this Part of this Chapter.
[Ch.8.]
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
8.9
20 Appointment of a Complaints Administrator
The Standing Committee shall, in consultation with the Representative Body, from time to time appoint a
person on such terms and subject to such conditions as it may think fit to be the Complaints Administrator for
the purposes of this Part of this Chapter and, with the approval of the Representative Body, may remove any
person so appointed and appoint another in his or her place. The person so appointed shall be a human
resources practitioner or a Lawyer or other suitably qualified person. No person who is an employee of the
Representative Body or a member of the clergy may be appointed as the Complaints Administrator.
21 Appointment and Composition of the Complaints Committee
(a) The Complaints Committee shall consist of one clerical and one lay representative of each diocese or
united diocese under the jurisdiction of one bishop and two members appointed by the Standing
Committee.
AMENDED 2008
(b) The clergy of the diocesan synod of each diocesan or united diocesan synod shall elect one member of
the clergy as a member of the Complaints Committee. The lay members of each diocesan or united
diocesan synod shall elect a layperson as a member of the Complaints Committee. The members so
elected shall be elected to hold office from 1st January of the first year of the General Synod triennium
for six years and be elected every second triennium thereafter, and shall be eligible for re-election.
(c) Any casual vacancy by death, resignation, or continued absence from Ireland for twelve months,
occurring among the clerical or lay members of the Complaints Committee, shall be filled as soon as
conveniently may be by the clerical or lay members, as the case may be, of the diocesan synod or
united diocesan synod which elected the person being replaced. Any person elected to fill a casual
vacancy shall hold office only for so long as the person in whose place he or she shall have been elected
would have held the office if such vacancy had not occurred.
(d) The quorum for meetings of the Complaints Committee shall be six persons, so long as there are at least
two members of the clergy and two laypersons attending thereat. Any meeting of the Complaints
Committee at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all the functions and powers
conferred upon the Complaints Committee by this Part of this Chapter.
(e) The Complaints Committee may delegate such of its functions and powers to sub-committees of its own
members as it may deem necessary or convenient. Any sub-committee so formed shall comprise at
least two members of the clergy and two laypersons and shall, in the exercise of the functions and
powers so delegated, conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the Complaints
Committee.
(f) The Standing Committee shall from time to time appoint a chairperson and a vice-chairperson of the
Complaints Committee from amongst the members of the Complaints Committee.
(g) No person shall be a member of the Complaints Committee at the same time as he or she is a member of
the Disciplinary Panel.
22 Appointment and Composition of the Disciplinary Panel
(a)
The Disciplinary Panel shall consist of not less than four members of the clergy and not less than eight
laypersons of whom at least four shall be Lawyers.
(b) The Standing Committee shall prior to the commencement of the General Synod triennium appoint the
members of the Disciplinary Panel. The members so appointed shall be appointed to hold office from
1st January of the first year of the General Synod triennium for six years and be appointed every second
triennium thereafter, and shall be eligible for re-appointment. No member of the Standing Committee
may be a member of the Disciplinary Panel.
(c)
Any casual vacancy by death, resignation, or continued absence from Ireland for twelve months,
occurring among the members of the Disciplinary Panel, shall be filled as soon as conveniently may be
by the Standing Committee. Any person appointed to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office only so
long as the person in whose place he or she shall have been appointed would have held the office if such
vacancy had not occurred.
(d) The Standing Committee shall from time to time appoint from those members of the Disciplinary Panel
who are Lawyers a chairperson and a vice-chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel.
8.10
(e)
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
[Ch.8.]
No person shall be a member of the Disciplinary Panel at the same time as he or she is a member of the
Complaints Committee.
23 Funding of Complaints Committee
(a)
Prior to the beginning of each year the Complaints Committee shall prepare and submit to the Standing
Committee for consideration and onward submission to the Representative Body an annual budget for
that year.
(b) The Representative Body may approve, with or without amendment, the annual budget. Where the
Representative Body wishes to approve an annual budget with amendment it must first consult with the
Standing Committee and the chairperson and/or vice chairperson of the Complaints Committee.
AMENDED 2008
(c)
The Complaints Committee may if it considers it necessary to do so, undertake, during the course of a
year, an interim review of its annual budget and following such review submit an amended or
supplementary budget to the Standing Committee for consideration and onward submission to the
Representative Body for approval. Section 23(b) applies with any necessary changes if an amended or a
supplementary annual budget is submitted.
(d) In each year the Representative Body shall provide, in such instalments as it sees fit, a grant equal to the
budget approved in accordance with Section 23(b) for that financial year (including any amended or
supplementary budget approved for that year). Any part of such a grant not expended or committed in
that year shall be returned to the Representative Body.
(e)
Within one month of the end of each year the Complaints Committee shall submit to the Representative
Body and the Standing Committee an income and expenditure account for the Complaints Committee
for that year.
24 Duty to co-operate and Duty to have regard to Bishop’s Role
(a)
It shall be the duty of every bishop and every member of the clergy of the Church of Ireland to cooperate fully at every phase of the disciplinary process provided for under this Part of this Chapter. It
shall be the duty of every bishop and every such member (including those who are not involved in or
the subject of the said disciplinary process) to provide such information, explanations, documents and
computer and other electronic records as the Complaints Administrator, the Complaints Committee, a
Disciplinary Tribunal or an Appeal Tribunal, as the case may be, may consider necessary to enable them
to carry out their respective duties under this Part of this Chapter.
(b) It shall be the duty of every lay member of the Church of Ireland to co-operate fully at every phase of
the disciplinary process provided for under this Part of this Chapter. It shall be the duty of every such
member (including such members who are not involved in or the subject of the said disciplinary
process) to provide such information, explanations, documents and computer and other electronic
records as the Complaints Administrator, the Complaints Committee, a Disciplinary Tribunal or an
Appeal Tribunal, as the case may be, may consider necessary to enable them to carry out their
respective duties under this Part of this Chapter.
(c)
The bishops and archbishops of the Church of Ireland have by virtue of their respective offices and
consecration a role in administering discipline and each of the Disciplinary Bodies shall, in exercising
its functions under this Part of this Chapter, have due regard to that role as outlined in section 19.
(d) Members of the Complaints Committee and any Disciplinary Tribunal or Appeal Tribunal shall not be
capable of performing any of the duties of office until they have signed the following declaration:
I, A.B.,1 (do solemnly declare that I am a member of the Church of Ireland, and a communicant of the
said Church, and) being fully sensible how important it is that complaints involving members of the
clergy and bishops of the Church of Ireland be adjudicated on in a fair and unbiased manner in
accordance with proper procedures undertake that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my
knowledge and power perform my duties as a member of
without fear or favour or
affection or ill-will towards any person, and that I will uphold the Constitution and other laws of the
Church of Ireland for the glory of God, the good of his Church, and the welfare of his people.
1
The words in brackets shall be omitted when the declaration is made by a member of the clergy.
[Ch.8.]
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
(Signed),
Dated
8.11
A.B.
day of
25 Liability of Members of the Clergy and Bishops to Disciplinary Action
AMENDED 2008
A member of the clergy or a bishop shall be liable to disciplinary action if he or she is guilty of:

an act or omission which would have been a breach or violation of the ecclesiastical law of the United
Church of England and Ireland, and an offence punishable by such law in Ireland, at the time of the
passing of the Irish Church Act, 1869, and which is a breach or violation of the ecclesiastical law of the
Church of Ireland for the time being;

any crime for the time being punishable by law in any part of Ireland;

failure to obey any order of a Diocesan Court, the Court of the General Synod or any Disciplinary Body;

immorality;

drunkenness or substance abuse;

neglect of duty;

conduct unbecoming to the sacred calling of a person in holy orders;

any other act or omission which is a breach or violation of the canons or other laws of the Church of
Ireland, for the time being; or

teaching or publishing of any doctrine contrary to the doctrines of the Church of Ireland.
26 Right to Make a Complaint
(a)
Any bishop, any member of the clergy or any lay member of the Church of Ireland who has a proper
interest may bring to the attention of the Complaints Administrator any Complaint in respect of a
member of the clergy by means of a written submission signed by such person.
(b) Any bishop or any member of the clergy or any lay member of the Church of Ireland who has a proper
interest may bring to the attention of the Complaints Administrator any complaint in respect of a bishop
by means of a written submission signed by such person.
(c)
Any such written submission must be accompanied by the sum of £600 or €1,000 (or such other sum as
the Rules Committee may from time to time prescribe). Such sum shall be held by the Complaints
Administrator and shall be returned to the Complainant unless the Complaint is dismissed pursuant to
section 27(a), 28(a) or the Complaints Committee is of the opinion that a prima facie case has not been
made out in respect of the Complaint. Where such a written submission is made by a lay member or
members of the Church of Ireland, it must incorporate a written confirmation on the part of each such
lay member that he or she is a member of the Church of Ireland.
27 Processing of Complaints in respect of Members of the Clergy by the Complaints Administrator
(a)
If the Complaints Administrator is of the opinion that a Complaint made in respect of a member of the
clergy discloses no reasonable grounds upon which a case could be made that the member of the clergy
is liable to disciplinary action under this Part of this Chapter then, subject to obtaining the written
approval of either the chairperson or vice chairperson of the Complaints Committee, the Complaints
Administrator may dismiss the Complaint. Such a dismissal shall not be a defence to a subsequent
Complaint in relation to the same or substantially the same matters.
(b) Unless a Complaint made in respect of a member of the clergy has been dismissed under section 27(a)
or the relevant bishop has already determined that pastoral resolution in accordance with section 19 has
not been possible or is not appropriate, the Complaints Administrator shall convey details of the
Complaint to the bishop of the diocese in which the member of the clergy against whom the Complaint
has been made is beneficed or licensed for pastoral resolution in accordance with section 19.
(c)
If and when a bishop determines that pastoral resolution of a Complaint in respect of a member of the
clergy which has been referred to the bishop for pastoral resolution in accordance with section 19 is not
possible or not appropriate, the Complaints Administrator shall convey such Complaint made to the
Complaints Committee.
8.12
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
[Ch.8.]
(d) The bishop of the diocese in which the member of the clergy against whom a Complaint has been made
is beneficed or licensed may, if the bishop considers it proper to do so, suspend from office that member
of the clergy until such time as all disciplinary proceedings under this Part of this Chapter relating to
that Complaint have been finally completed. Any member of the clergy so suspended may continue to
reside in the glebe house and shall be entitled to a full stipend for the period of such suspension and
such expenses as the bishop may determine. He or she must, however, if so required by the relevant
bishop, deliver up to the bishop all books, keys and other property held by him or her by virtue of his or
her office as are necessary to enable any member of the clergy, appointed by the bishop to look after the
benefice during his or her period of suspension, to carry out his or her functions.
28 Processing of Complaints in respect of a Bishop by the Complaints Administrator
AMENDED 2008
(a) Where a Complaint is made against a bishop or archbishop, the Complaints Administrator shall, in the
first instance, consult with the archbishop of the province, or in the case of an archbishop, the
archbishop of the other province, and together they shall determine whether reasonable grounds have
been disclosed upon which a case could be made that the bishop or archbishop is liable to disciplinary
action under this Part of this Chapter. If they are of the opinion that the Complaint discloses no
reasonable grounds then, subject to obtaining the written approval of either the chairperson or vice
chairperson of the Complaints Committee, the Complaints Administrator may dismiss the Complaint.
Such a dismissal shall not be a defence to a subsequent complaint in relation to the same or
substantially the same matters.
(b) Unless a Complaint made in respect of a bishop has been dismissed under section 28(a) or the relevant
archbishop has already determined that pastoral resolution in accordance with section 19 has not been
possible or is not appropriate, the Complaints Administrator shall convey details of the Complaint to
the archbishop of the relevant province or, in the case of an archbishop, the other province for pastoral
resolution in accordance with section 19.
(c) If and when an archbishop determines that pastoral resolution of a Complaint in respect of a bishop
which has been referred to the archbishop for pastoral resolution in accordance with section 19 is not
possible or not appropriate, the Complaints Administrator shall convey such Complaint made to the
Complaints Committee.
(d) The archbishop of the relevant province (or, in the case of a Complaint made against an archbishop, the
archbishop of the other province) may, if the archbishop considers it proper to do so, suspend a bishop
against whom a Complaint has been made from office until such time as all disciplinary proceedings
under this Part of this Chapter relating to that Complaint have been finally completed. Any bishop so
suspended may continue to reside in the see house and shall be entitled to a full stipend for the period of
such suspension. The bishop must, however, if so required by the relevant archbishop, deliver up all
books, keys and other property held by the bishop by virtue of the bishop’s office.
29 Investigation of Complaints by the Complaints Committee
(a)
Where a Complaint has been conveyed to the Complaints Committee by the Complaints Administrator,
the Complaints Committee shall investigate the Complaint in order to decide whether or not a prima
facie case has been made out that the bishop or the member of the clergy concerned is liable to
disciplinary action under this Part of this Chapter.
(b) Before reaching a decision as to whether or not such a prima facie case has been made out, the
Complaints Committee shall:
(i)
provide to the bishop or member of the clergy concerned, where the Complaint has been brought
to the attention of the Complaints Administrator in writing, a copy of such writing and, where the
Complaint was brought to the attention of the Complaints Administrator otherwise than in writing
or came to the attention of the Complaints Administrator otherwise than as a result of a Complaint
made by a Complainant, a synopsis prepared by the Complaints Administrator of the Complaint
together with brief details of the material then before the Committee and upon which it proposes to
base its decision as to whether or not a prima facie case has been made out; and
(ii) give the bishop or member of the clergy concerned an opportunity of making such written
representations to it as he or she may consider appropriate to the deliberations of the Committee.
[Ch.8.]
(c)
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
8.13
In addition the Complaints Committee may, in its absolute discretion, give the bishop or member of the
clergy concerned, the Complainant and the Complaints Administrator an opportunity of being heard
before it. If the Complaints Committee gives any of such persons such an opportunity it shall offer a
like opportunity to the other(s) of them.
(d) If the Complaints Committee is of the opinion that a prima facie case has not been made out in respect
of any Complaint, it shall so notify in writing the bishop or member of the clergy concerned, the
Complainant and the Complaints Administrator.
(e)
If the Complaints Committee is of the opinion that a prima facie case as aforesaid has been made out, it
may in its absolute discretion:
(i)
decide that no further action be taken on the Complaint or any specified part of it; or
(ii) decide that, notwithstanding such prima facie case, further consideration of the whole or part of the
Complaint be deferred on such terms and conditions as it considers appropriate; or
(iii) deal with the whole or part of the Complaint by way of a consent order under section 30; or
(iv) refer the Complaint to mediation in such manner as the Committee may direct; or
AMENDED 2008
(v)
refer the whole or part of the Complaint to a Disciplinary Tribunal as a Formal Complaint in terms
formulated by the Committee,
and the Complaints Committee shall notify, in writing, the bishop or member of the clergy concerned,
the Complainant and the Complaints Administrator that a prima facie case has been made out against
the bishop or member of the clergy concerned, and which course of action, of those listed in this section,
the Complaints Committee intends to take.
30 Consent Orders
(a)
Where the Complaints Committee decides to deal with a Complaint by way of a consent order the
provisions of this section shall apply.
(b) The Complaints Committee may, with the agreement of the bishop or the member of the clergy
concerned, make any one or more of the orders which, on finding a Formal Complaint proved, a
Disciplinary Tribunal would have power to make in respect of a Respondent.
(c)
Any such order may be made upon such terms and conditions (if any) as the Complaints Committee
may, in its absolute discretion, consider appropriate.
(d) Before making any order under section 30(b) the Complaints Committee shall serve on the bishop or
member of the clergy concerned a notice describing the order which it would make if the bishop or
member of the clergy agrees.
(e)
A notice under section 30(d) must:
(i)
explain the extent to which the finding of the Complaints Committee would be published and/or
otherwise communicated to others; and
(ii) state that, if the bishop or member of the clergy does not agree in writing to the proposed action
within a stated period, of not less than fourteen days, the Complaint will be referred to the
Disciplinary Tribunal as a Formal Complaint.
(f)
If, within the period stated in the notice (or such extended period, if any, as the Complaints Committee,
in its absolute discretion, may allow), the bishop or member of the clergy concerned agrees in writing to
the Complaints Committee proceeding as proposed in the notice, the Committee shall make the order
specified in the notice unless, having regard to any further information which it has received, it is of the
opinion:
(i)
that a lesser or no sanction is appropriate, in which case it shall impose a lesser or no sanction, as
the case may be;
(ii) that a smaller or no sum is appropriate by way of costs, in which case it shall order a smaller sum
to be paid by way of costs or make no order as to costs, as the case may be;
(iii) that no prima facie case exists, in which case it shall so find; or
8.14
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
[Ch.8.]
(iv) that a greater sanction is appropriate, in which case before taking any order that goes beyond that
described in the notice served under section 30(d) it shall serve on the member of the clergy
concerned a supplemental notice identifying the further information and indicating the alternative
order the Complaints Committee intends making.
(g) If the bishop or member of clergy concerned does not, within the period stated in the notice or
supplemental notice (or such extended period as the Complaints Committee in its absolute discretion
may have allowed), agree in writing to the Complaints Committee proceeding as proposed in such
notice, the Complaints Committee shall refer the Complaint as a Formal Complaint to the Disciplinary
Tribunal.
(h) The Complaints Committee may publish details of each consent order made by it in the Journal of the
General Synod, and may otherwise publish or communicate details of any consent order in such manner
as it in its absolute discretion thinks fit.
31 Disciplinary Tribunals
AMENDED 2008
(a)
When a Formal Complaint is referred to a Disciplinary Tribunal by the Complaints Committee, the
chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel or, failing him or her, the vice-chairperson of such Panel shall
appoint a Disciplinary Tribunal from, except for any bishop appointed, the members of the Disciplinary
Panel to hear the Formal Complaint. The Tribunal shall consist of a Lawyer as chairperson and one
member of the clergy (or, where the Respondent is a bishop, one bishop nominated by the House of
Bishops) and one layperson. No former member of the Complaints Committee who has been concerned
with the Complaint which is the subject of the Formal Complaint shall be eligible for appointment to
such Disciplinary Tribunal. No person who is ordinarily resident in the diocese in which the
Respondent is beneficed or licensed shall be eligible for appointment to such Disciplinary Tribunal.
(b) If, for any reason, prior to the time fixed for the hearing of the Formal Complaint, any member of the
Tribunal becomes unable to act, the chairperson or, failing him or her, the vice-chairperson of the
Disciplinary Panel shall co-opt another eligible person from the Disciplinary Panel to act in his or her
place.
(c)
If, for any reason, any member of the Disciplinary Tribunal (other than the chairperson thereof) is,
during the course of the hearing, unable to continue to attend the hearing, the remaining members,
provided that they are not less than two in number, may continue with the hearing, but if the Respondent
is present they shall do so only if he or she consents. Save as aforesaid the Formal Complaint shall be
re-heard by a new Disciplinary Tribunal appointed by the chairperson or, failing him or her, the vicechairperson of the Disciplinary Panel in accordance with section 31(a).
(d) If at any time during the hearing of a Formal Complaint, the Disciplinary Tribunal is of the opinion that
it is for any reason inappropriate for it to complete the hearing, the chairperson or failing him or her, the
vice-chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel shall appoint a new Disciplinary Tribunal to re-hear the
Formal Complaint.
(e)
Where a Formal Complaint is re-heard pursuant to sections 31(c) or 31(d), none of the members of the
original Tribunal may be appointed to the new Tribunal.
32 Consideration of Formal Complaints by Disciplinary Tribunal
(a)
As soon as practicable after its appointment, the Disciplinary Tribunal shall notify the Respondent, the
Complaints Committee and, if there is one, the Complainant of the time (which shall not be sooner than
42 days from the date of such Notification) and place fixed for the hearing of the Formal Complaint.
(b) The Disciplinary Tribunal shall give the person or persons presenting and prosecuting the Formal
Complaint the opportunity of:
(i)
attending and being heard at the hearing of the Formal Complaint;
(ii) adducing documentary evidence;
(iii) calling witnesses (including, if desired, any Complainant) to give evidence;
(iv) cross-examining witnesses called by the Respondent; and
(v)
making such submissions as he or she wishes to the Disciplinary Tribunal.
[Ch.8.]
(c)
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
8.15
The Disciplinary Tribunal shall give the Respondent the opportunity of:
(i)
attending and being heard at the hearing of the Formal Complaint;
(ii) if he or she so desires, being represented before the Disciplinary Tribunal by a member of the
clergy, a solicitor or a barrister;
(iii) in addition to being given in advance of the hearing the material as provided for under section
32(e), hearing the evidence against him or her;
(iv) cross-examining witnesses called by the person or persons presenting and prosecuting the Formal
Complaint in accordance with section 32(h);
(v)
adducing documentary evidence;
(vi) calling witnesses to give evidence on his or her behalf; and
(vii) making such submissions as he or she wishes to the Disciplinary Tribunal.
AMENDED 2008
(d) The Complainant who made the Complaint giving rise to a Formal Complaint may attend any hearing of
the Disciplinary Tribunal relating to that Complaint even if the Tribunal determines that the hearing
shall be held in private. Any Complainant attending a hearing shall do so as an observer only and shall
not have any right of audience save as provided in section 37(c).
(e)
At least fourteen days in advance of the hearing, the Complaints Administrator shall deliver to the
Respondent copies of or a summary of any documents or other materials, if any, which, in addition to
those made available to the Respondent under section 29(b), the person presenting and prosecuting the
Formal Complaint intends to rely on, and a list of such witnesses as he or she proposes calling at the
hearing.
(f)
At least seven days in advance of the hearing, the Respondent shall deliver to the Complaints
Administrator a summary of the arguments to be presented in his or her defence, together with copies of
such supporting documents as he or she proposes to rely on, and a list of such witnesses as he or she
proposes calling on his or her behalf at the hearing. However, no failure by the Respondent to comply
with this section 32(f) shall restrict the Respondent’s rights under section 32(c). The Respondent shall
not be precluded from raising any argument or relying on any document which was not included in the
material so delivered or calling any witness who was not included in the list of witness so delivered.
(g) If the Respondent does not attend the hearing fixed as aforesaid, then, the Tribunal may, in its absolute
discretion, either:
(i)
provided the Disciplinary Tribunal is satisfied that notice of that hearing was given to the
Respondent, proceed to hear the Formal Complaint in the absence of the Respondent; or
(ii) adjourn the hearing to such other date, venue and time as the Tribunal may in its absolute
discretion, determine.
If it does so adjourn the hearing, the Disciplinary Tribunal shall give to the Respondent notice of the
adjourned hearing.
(h) The Complaints Committee may:
(i)
appoint a solicitor or another suitable person; or
(ii) instruct a solicitor to brief counsel,
to present and prosecute such Formal Complaint before the Disciplinary Tribunal appointed to hear such
Formal Complaint and to appear on any appeal therefrom before the Appeal Tribunal appointed to hear
such appeal.
(i)
A Disciplinary Tribunal may instruct a solicitor to act, or to brief counsel to act, as legal assessor on the
hearing of any Formal Complaint.
(j)
A Formal Complaint may only be withdrawn with the consent of the Disciplinary Tribunal appointed to
hear that Formal Complaint.
(k) A Disciplinary Tribunal may, on the application of the person or persons appointed under section 32(h),
agree to the amendment of the terms of a Formal Complaint, provided it is satisfied that the Respondent
would not be unfairly prejudiced thereby.
8.16
(l)
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
[Ch.8.]
If, during the course of hearing a Formal Complaint, it becomes apparent to a Disciplinary Tribunal that
the Respondent may be liable to disciplinary action in accordance with this Part of this Chapter in
relation to matters not the subject matter of the Formal Complaint, it may amend the terms of the
Formal Complaint to include those additional matters or it may bring those matters to the attention of
the Complaints Administrator. If a Disciplinary Tribunal decides to amend a Formal Complaint it may,
on the application of the Respondent or the person or persons appointed under section 32(h), adjourn the
hearing for such period of time as may seem fit in the circumstances.
(m) A Disciplinary Tribunal shall have a general discretion to grant extensions and abridgments of time,
adjournments and postponements where it considers it fair and proper to do so.
33 Findings and Orders of Disciplinary Tribunals
(a)
If a Disciplinary Tribunal appointed to hear a Formal Complaint finds that the Formal Complaint has
been proved in whole or in part in accordance with the standard of proof applicable in accordance with
section 33(b), it shall make a finding to that effect; but if it finds that the Formal Complaint has not been
proved in accordance with such applicable standard of proof, it shall dismiss the Formal Complaint.
AMENDED 2008
(b) Subject to section 33(c), a Formal Complaint against a Respondent shall not be proved in whole or in
part unless and until it has been proved by the Complaints Committee to the satisfaction of the
Disciplinary Tribunal in accordance with the standard of proof applicable under this section. The
standard of proof applicable shall be proof on the balance of probabilities.
(c)
If, in any proceedings before a Disciplinary Tribunal, it is proved that a member of the clergy has been
found guilty of any crime for the time being punishable by law in any part of Ireland he or she shall be
taken to have committed that crime unless the contrary is proved.
(d) If a Disciplinary Tribunal makes a finding that a Formal Complaint has been proved in whole or in part,
it may make any one or more of the following orders against the Respondent as it considers appropriate
having regard to the status of the Respondent, the Tribunal's views as to the nature and seriousness of
the Formal Complaint, any previous Complaint in respect of which a finding or a finding and an order
have been made against the Respondent and any other circumstances that the Tribunal considers
relevant:
(i)
an order that no further action be taken on the Formal Complaint;
(ii) an order admonishing the Respondent;
(iii) an order severely admonishing the Respondent;
(iv) an order temporarily depriving the Respondent (who is a member of the clergy) of the
Respondent’s office;
(v)
an order depriving the Respondent (who is a member of the clergy) of the Respondent’s office;
(vi) an order deposing the Respondent (who is a member of the clergy) from holy orders;
(vii) an order temporarily depriving the Respondent (who is a bishop) of the Respondent’s office; and
(viii) an order permanently depriving the Respondent (who is a bishop) of the Respondent’s office.
(e)
If a Disciplinary Tribunal temporarily deprives a Respondent of his or her office it may also:
(i)
order the Respondent to deliver up all books, keys, and other property held by him or her by virtue
of his or her office for the duration of the suspension; and / or
(ii) order that any moneys payable as stipend to the Respondent shall be sequestered for such period
and subject to such conditions as the Disciplinary Tribunal may think fit.
(f)
A Disciplinary Tribunal may make an order requiring the Respondent to do or to refrain from doing an
act.
(g) A Disciplinary Tribunal may also make an order for costs in accordance with section 38.
(h) Any such order as is referred to in sections 33(d), 33 (e), 33 (f) and 33 (g) may be made upon such terms
and conditions (if any) as the Disciplinary Tribunal may in its absolute discretion, consider appropriate.
[Ch.8.]
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
8.17
(i)
Subject to section 34(i), an order of the Disciplinary Tribunal shall take effect from the expiry of the
appeal period referred to in section 34(c). Notice of any finding or order of the Disciplinary Tribunal
shall as soon as practicable be given to the Respondent and, if there is one, to the Complainant and to
the Complaints Committee.
(j)
Details of each order made by a Disciplinary Tribunal shall be published in the Journal of the General
Synod.
(k) A copy of all pleadings and documents filed in any proceedings before a Disciplinary Tribunal shall be
filed of record in the registry maintained by the Complaints Administrator. All such pleadings and
documents shall be open to inspection by the parties to the proceedings in question and, at the discretion
of the Complaints Committee, to any other person.
34 Appeals and Appointment of Appeal Tribunal
(a)
A Respondent may appeal against a finding or order of a Disciplinary Tribunal on the grounds that:
(i)
the finding is wrong; and / or
(ii) the order is excessive; and / or
AMENDED 2008
(iii) the finding and / or the order is flawed because of a serious procedural or other irregularity in the
proceedings before the Disciplinary Tribunal.
(b) No appeal shall lie in respect of a matter of doctrine or ritual on which the House of Bishops has issued
a statement in accordance with section 39.
(c)
If a Respondent wishes to appeal a finding or order of a Disciplinary Tribunal, he or she must within 21
days (or such longer period as the Disciplinary Tribunal may allow) of the date of the service upon him
or her of such order, give notice of appeal to the chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel. Any such notice
shall state the grounds of appeal and the grounds so stated shall not thereafter be amended except with
the leave of the Appeal Tribunal appointed to hear such appeal.
(d) The chairperson or, failing him or her, the vice-chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel shall as soon as
practicable after the receipt of such notice of appeal appoint an Appeal Tribunal from, except for any
bishops appointed, the members of the Disciplinary Panel. Where the Appellant is a member of the
clergy the Appeal Tribunal shall consist of a lawyer as chairperson, one layperson and one member of
the clergy. Where the Appellant is a bishop, the Appeal Tribunal shall consist of a lawyer as chairman,
two laypersons and two bishops nominated by the House of Bishops. No former member of the
Complaints Committee or Disciplinary Panel who has been concerned with the Complaint or Formal
Complaint which is the subject of the appeal shall be eligible for appointment to such Appeal Tribunal.
No person who is ordinarily resident in the diocese in which the Appellant is beneficial or licensed shall
be eligible for appointment to such Appeal Tribunal.
(e)
If, for any reason, prior to the time fixed for the hearing of the Appeal, any member of the Appeal
Tribunal becomes unable to act, the chairperson or, failing him or her, the vice-chairperson of the
Disciplinary Panel shall co-opt another eligible person from the Disciplinary Panel to act in his or her
place.
(f)
If, for any reason, any member of the Appeal Tribunal (other than the chairperson thereof) is, during the
course of the hearing, unable to continue to attend the hearing, the remaining members, provided that
they are not less than three in number, may continue with the hearing, but if the Appellant is present
they shall do so only if he or she consents. Save as aforesaid the appeal shall be re-heard by a new
Appeal Tribunal appointed by the chairperson or, failing him or her, the vice-chairperson of the
Disciplinary Panel.
(g) If at any time during the course of the hearing of an appeal the Appeal Tribunal is of the opinion that it
is for any reason inappropriate for it to complete the hearing, the chairperson or, failing him or her, the
vice-chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel shall appoint a new Appeal Tribunal to re-hear the appeal.
(h) Where an appeal is re-heard pursuant to sections 34(f) or 34(g), none of the members of the original
Appeal Tribunal may be appointed to the new Appeal Tribunal.
8.18
(i)
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
[Ch.8.]
If notice of appeal is served on the chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel in accordance with section
34(c) the order of Disciplinary Tribunal shall not have effect until the appeal has been withdrawn or
determined and, where determined, it shall only have effect in accordance with the order of the Appeal
Tribunal.
35 Hearing of Appeals by Appeal Tribunal
(a)
As soon as practicable after its appointment, the Appeal Tribunal shall notify the Appellant, the
Complaints Committee and, if there is one, the Complainant of the time (which shall not be sooner than
42 days from the date of such notification) and place fixed for the hearing of the appeal.
(b)
Unless the Appellant, the Complaints Committee and the Appeal Tribunal agree otherwise, appeals shall
be conducted and heard as follows:
AMENDED 2008
(i)
in the case of an appeal on the grounds set out in section 34(a)(i) (or an appeal which includes
those grounds), the appeal (or that part of the appeal, as the case may be) on such grounds shall be
by way of re-hearing and shall be conducted and heard as though at first instance, in which case,
the Complaints Committee shall first present its case to the Appeal Tribunal with the same burden
and standard of proof as applied before the Disciplinary Tribunal and the Appellant may then
present its case; and
(ii) in the case of an appeal made on the grounds set out in sections 34(a)(ii) or 34(a)(iii) (or an appeal
which includes those grounds), the appeal (or that part of the appeal, as the case may be) on such
grounds shall be heard in such manner as the Appeal Tribunal appointed to hear such appeal may,
in its absolute discretion, direct.
The Appeal Tribunal appointed to hear an appeal may, in its absolute discretion, admit any evidence not
presented at the hearing of the Formal Complaint by the Disciplinary Tribunal. If either the Appellant or
the Complaints Committee wish to introduce any new evidence not presented at the hearing of the
Formal Complaint by the Disciplinary Tribunal they shall give the other and the Disciplinary Tribunal
notice of such desire at least 14 days prior to the date set for the hearing of the appeal.
(c)
The Appeal Tribunal shall give the Appellant the opportunity of:
(i)
attending and being heard at the hearing of appeal;
(ii) if he or she so desires, being represented before the Appeal Tribunal by a member of the clergy, a
solicitor or a barrister;
(iii) hearing the evidence put forward by or on behalf of the Complaints Committee;
(iv) cross-examining witnesses called by the person or persons appointed under section 32(h);
(v)
adducing documentary evidence;
(vi) calling witnesses to give evidence on his or her behalf; and
(vii) making such submissions as he or she wishes to the Appeal Tribunal.
(d) The Appeal Tribunal shall give the Complaints Committee the opportunity of:
(i)
attending and being heard at the hearing of the appeal;
(ii) adducing documentary evidence;
(iii) calling witnesses (including, if desired, any Complainant) to give evidence;
(iv) cross-examining witnesses called by the Appellant; and
(v)
(e)
making such submissions as they wish to the Appeal Tribunal.
The Complainant who made the Complaint giving rise to the appeal may attend at the hearing of the
appeal even if the Appeal Tribunal determines that the hearing shall be held in private. Any
Complainant attending a hearing shall do so as an observer and shall have no right of audience save as
provided in section 37(c).
[Ch.8.]
(f)
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
8.19
If the Appellant does not attend the hearing fixed as aforesaid, then the Appeal Tribunal may, in its
absolute discretion, either:
(i)
provided that the Appeal Tribunal is satisfied that notice of that hearing was given to the Appellant
or Appellants, dismiss the appeal; or
(ii) adjourn the appeal hearing to such other date, venue and time as it may, in its absolute discretion,
determine.
If it does so adjourn the hearing, the Appeal Tribunal shall give to the Appellant notice of the dismissal
and / or adjourned hearing.
(g) If the Appeal Tribunal dismisses an appeal pursuant to section 35(f) and the Appellant applies to have
the appeal re-listed for hearing within 21 days of the Notice of Dismissal being sent to the Appellant,
the Appeal Tribunal may re-list the appeal if, in its absolute discretion, it is satisfied that the nonattendance of the Appellant at the appeal was for some reason which merits the reversal of the
dismissal.
AMENDED 2008
(h) The Appeal Tribunal may instruct a solicitor to act, or to brief counsel to act, as legal assessor on the
hearing of any appeal.
(i)
An appeal may only be withdrawn with the consent of the Appeal Tribunal appointed to hear that
appeal.
(j)
If, during the course of hearing an appeal, it becomes apparent to an Appeal Tribunal that the Appellant
may be liable to disciplinary action in accordance with this Part of this Chapter in relation to matters not
the subject matter of the appeal, it may bring those matters to the attention of the Complaints
Administrator.
(k) An Appeal Tribunal shall have a general discretion to grant extensions and abridgments of time,
adjournments and postponements where it considers it fair and proper to do so.
36 Orders of Appeal Tribunal
(a)
On any appeal, the Appeal Tribunal may affirm, vary or rescind any finding or order of the Disciplinary
Tribunal in respect of which the appeal was brought, and may substitute any other finding or order (on
such terms and conditions (if any) as it, in its absolute discretion, considers appropriate) which the
Disciplinary Tribunal might have made on the original Formal Complaint, or may, if the Appeal
Tribunal, in its absolute discretion, considers it appropriate, order that the Formal Complaint which
resulted in the finding or order of the Disciplinary Tribunal in respect of which the appeal was brought
be heard de novo by a different Disciplinary Tribunal. An Appeal Tribunal may also make an order for
costs under section 38.
(b) An order of the Appeal Tribunal shall take effect as from the date thereof unless the Appeal Tribunal, in
its absolute discretion, directs that it shall take effect from some other date (not being earlier than the
date of the order appealed against) as shall be specified in the order.
(c)
Notice of any finding or order of the Appeal Tribunal shall as soon as practicable be given to the
Appellant, and, if there is one, to the Complainant and to the Complaints Committee.
(d) Details of each order made by an Appeals Tribunal shall be published in the Journal of the General
Synod.
(e)
A copy of all pleadings and documents filed in any proceedings before an Appeal Tribunal shall be filed
of record in the registry maintained by the Complaints Administrator. All such pleadings and documents
shall be open to inspection by the parties to the proceedings in question and, at the discretion of the
Complaints Committee, to any other person.
37 Hearings of Tribunals to be in Public
(a)
All hearings by a Disciplinary Tribunal or an Appeal Tribunal may be held in public unless:
(i)
not later than 14 days before the date set for the hearing, an application is made to the Tribunal by
the Complainant, the Respondent or Appellant (as the case may be) or the Complaints Committee
to have the hearing or part of it held in private; and
8.20
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
[Ch.8.]
(ii) the Tribunal, in its absolute discretion, determines that the holding in public of any hearing or any
part thereof would be inappropriate.
If the Tribunal determines that any hearing or any part thereof should not be held in public, then that
hearing or the relevant part thereof shall be held in private.
(b) On receipt of an application under section 37(a), the Tribunal will inform the Complainant, the
Respondent or Appellant (as the case may be) and the Complaints Committee of the fact that application
has been made to the Tribunal to have the whole or part of the hearing held in private and invite the said
persons (and any other person it considers may be affected) to make such written submissions, if any, as
they wish on the issue of whether or not the hearing, or the part of the hearing in issue, should be heard
otherwise than in public.
AMENDED 2008
(c)
In addition the Tribunal may, in its absolute discretion, give each of the Respondent or Appellant (as the
case may be), the Complainant and the Complaints Committee (and any other person it considers may
be affected) an opportunity of being heard before it in relation to whether or not the hearing or any part
thereof should be heard in private. If the Tribunal gives any of such persons such an opportunity it shall
offer a like opportunity to the other or others of them. Any such hearing shall be in private.
(d) A Tribunal shall not consider an application to have a hearing held in private which is brought otherwise
than in accordance with the provisions of this section 37 and, in particular, shall not consider an
application which is not brought within the time period specified in section 37(a).
(e)
A Tribunal may require any person attending a hearing (whether held in public or private) to give their
name and address.
(f)
A Tribunal may expel from a hearing any person who is or becomes disruptive to the proceedings of
such Tribunal or who fails to comply with section 37(e).
38 Costs
(a) In addition to such other orders as may be made by a Disciplinary Tribunal or an Appeal Tribunal
(including an order that no further action be taken) a Disciplinary Tribunal or an Appeal Tribunal may,
in its absolute discretion, direct that the Respondent or Appellant, as the case may be, pay the
Complaints Committee such sum for costs as the Tribunal may, in its absolute discretion, determine.
(b) In determining such sum for costs:
(i)
the Disciplinary Tribunal may take account of any and all fees, costs and expenses of whatsoever
nature incurred by or on behalf of the Disciplinary Bodies, in relation to the Complaint and Formal
Complaint; and
(ii) the Appeal Tribunal may take account of such fees, costs and expenses as the Disciplinary
Tribunal may take account of and also any and all fees, costs and expenses incurred by or on
behalf of the Disciplinary Bodies in relation to the appeal.
[Ch.8.]
(c)
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
8.21
Any such costs shall be paid within twenty-one days of the date of the service upon the Respondent or
Appellant, as the case may be, of the order in respect of costs save that if notice of appeal in accordance
with section 34(c) is given costs awarded by a Disciplinary Tribunal shall not be payable until the
determination of the appeal, and then subject to any order made by the Appeal Tribunal in relation
thereto.
AMENDED 2008
(d) Any sum payable under any order for costs shall be deemed to be a contract debt due from the
Respondent or Appellant in question to the Complaints Committee and shall be recoverable by action.
(e)
Save as provided in section 38(f), neither a Respondent nor an Appellant, as the case may be, shall be
entitled to any award of costs as against any Disciplinary Body or any other party whatsoever in relation
to any fees, costs and expenses of whatsoever nature incurred by or on behalf of the Respondent or the
Appellant, as the case may be, in relation to the Complaint, Formal Complaint or the appeal.
(f)
If a Complaint is found not proven in whole or in part, the Respondent or the Appellant (as the case may
be) may apply to the Disciplinary Tribunal or the Appeal Tribunal for his or her costs. However, costs
do not automatically follow the event. The Disciplinary Tribunal or the Appeal Tribunal may order the
payment in favour of the Respondent or the Appellant out of the General Purposes Fund of such sum for
costs as the Disciplinary Tribunal or the Appeal Tribunal may determine, up to the maximum level as
decided upon from time to time by the Representative Body, upon consideration of the following
factors:
(i)
the extent to which the Disciplinary Bodies acted reasonably in the exercise of their respective
duties;
(ii) the financial prejudice to the Respondent or Appellant concerned if an order for costs was not to be
made in his or her favour;
(iii) whether it is just and reasonable to award costs; and
(iv) the need for the Disciplinary Bodies to make reasonable and apparently sound decisions without
the General Synod suffering financial prejudice if those decisions are successfully challenged.
Payment of any sum so ordered to be paid out of the General Purposes Fund may, in the light of the
resources available to the General Purposes Fund and the other demands on it, be deferred and paid over
such period of time as the Representative Body may consider is reasonable in the circumstances.
(g) An Appeal Tribunal may, in its order, reduce or increase any costs ordered by the Disciplinary Tribunal
in addition to any order it may make in relation to the costs of the appeal.
39 Matters of Doctrine and Ritual
(a) Where, in any matter which may be before a Disciplinary or Appeal Tribunal, a question relating to the
doctrine or ritual of the Church of Ireland arises that Tribunal shall, if it considers that an understanding
of the doctrine or ritual concerned is necessary to enable it to make a ruling on the matter, request the
House of Bishops to issue a statement setting out the collective understanding of the House of Bishops
of the current and orthodox position of the Church of Ireland on such doctrine and ritual.
(b) A Disciplinary Tribunal or Appeal Tribunal which has made a request to the House of Bishops in
accordance with section 39(a) shall adjourn, in such manner as it thinks fit, the hearing of the matter
that has given rise to such request until the House of Bishops has given its statement.
(c) The terms of the request to the House of Bishops will be settled by agreement between the Respondent
or Appellant (as the case may be) on the one hand and the person or persons appointed under section
32(h) on the other hand with the approval of the relevant Tribunal or, in default of agreement, by the
relevant Tribunal. Once settled the request will be signed by the chairperson of the Tribunal and
forwarded to the secretary to the House of Bishops.
(d) The Respondent or, as the case may be, the Appellant and the person or persons appointed under 32(h)
shall be entitled to make written submissions to the House of Bishops on the subject matter of the
request.
8.22
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
[Ch.8.]
(e) On receipt of a request under this section the House of Bishops shall meet to consider such request and,
having considered any written submissions made to it and followed whatever procedures, in its absolute
discretion, it considers appropriate, shall give its statement in writing on the request. Where the matter
giving rise to the request involves a bishop, such bishop shall not partake in the consideration by the
House of Bishops of the question of doctrine or ritual that arises.
(f)
The statement of the House of Bishops on a request made in accordance with this section shall be
binding on the Respondent or, as the case may be, the Appellant and the Tribunal concerned solely in
respect of the matter under consideration by the Tribunal.
40 Register
(a)
The Complaints Administrator shall maintain a register of all orders made by any Disciplinary Tribunal
and any Appeal Tribunal. Such register will be open to inspection by members of the public during
normal opening hours at the Representative Church Body Library.
(b)
If any person believes that an error has been made in any entry in such register, he or she may apply to
the Complaints Administrator to have the error rectified. If the Complaints Administrator determines
that an error has been made the Complaints Administrator shall duly rectify the register.
AMENDED 2008
41 Indemnity
(a)
The members of the Disciplinary Bodies shall be indemnified by the Representative Body from all
losses and expenses incurred by them in or about the discharge of their respective duties, except for any
loss or expense as happen from their own respective wilful act, neglect or default.
(b)
No member of a Disciplinary Body shall be liable for any act, omission or default of any other member
of a Disciplinary Body unless the same happens from his or her own wilful act, neglect or default.
42 Transitional Provisions
(a) Any proceedings commenced before a Diocesan Court or the Court of the General Synod before 1
January 2009 shall continue to be governed by the provisions in that behalf of the Constitution of the
Church of Ireland as were in force immediately prior to that date.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Part of this Chapter, no sanction may be imposed on a bishop or a
member of the clergy by a Disciplinary Tribunal or by an Appeal Tribunal, which was not provided for
in the Constitution of the Church of Ireland effective at the time the event, which rendered such bishop
or member of the clergy liable to such sanction, occurred.
(c)
No bishop or member of the clergy may be subject to disciplinary action on grounds that would not have
rendered the bishop or member of the clergy in question liable to disciplinary action under the
Constitution of the Church of Ireland effective at the time the alleged event, giving rise to such
disciplinary action, occurred.
[Ch.8.]
Ecclesiastical Tribunals
8.23
APPENDIX A
FORM OF PETITION
In the Diocesan Court of
[or In the Court of the General Synod, as the case may be].
A. B., Petitioner.
C. D., Respondent.
I, A.B. of
, a member of the Church of Ireland and having agreed to submit to the
authority of the Church of Ireland and the laws and tribunals thereof, petitioner, do hereby seek the following
relief [here state the relief sought]
I seek that relief on the following grounds, that is to say [here state the grounds],
AMENDED 2008
A. B., petitioner.
Dated this
day of
.
APPENDIX B
FORM OF APPEAL
In the Court of the General Synod.
A. B., Appellant.
C. D., Respondent.
I, A. B., the respondent [or petitioner, as the case may be], in a cause in the Diocesan Court of the dioceses of
, in which C.D., now of
, herein named as respondent, was
petitioner [or respondent, as the case may be], do hereby appeal from the judgment or order of the said Diocesan
Court, pronounced in the said cause on the
day of, upon the following grounds, that is to say [here state the
grounds of the appeal,]. And having lodged £
/€
as security for the costs and expenses, I require my
appeal to be heard by the Court of the General Synod.
A. B., appellant.
Dated this
day of
.